Town Sign Project: Ida County

A few Saturdays back I cruised around Ida County with Teresa harvesting their town signs. There aren’t many. Ida County only has 5 towns. Ida County might be best known for the castle buildings in Ida Grove.

Here are some facts about Ida County:

+ Population is 6,901 (2019 estimate) making Ida County the 92 most populous county in Iowa. Below Fremont County and above Pocahontas County.
+ The county seat and largest town is Ida Grove.
+ Ida County was formed on January 15, 1851, but nobody lived there, so there was no government. The county government was formed in 1858 when there were about 40 residents.
+ Named for Ida Smith, the first child of European immigrants born in the region.
+ Major highways ae US-20, US059, IA-3, and IA-175.
+ Adjacent counties are Cherokee, Sac, Crawford, and Woodbury.
+ The population peaked in 1900 at 12,327.

The Ida County Courthouse is a cool old looking courthouse:


Ida County Courthouse
The Ida County Courthouse in Ida Grove, Iowa.

The Ida County Freedom Rock is located in Holstein, Iowa:


Ida County Freedom Rock

Ida County Freedom Rock

Ida County Freedom Rock

Ida County Freedom Rock

With Ida County conquered, this is the updated Photography 139 Conquest Map:


Town Sign Project - 30 Counties
PURPLE=COMPLETED

30 counties completed. 30.3% of the Cyclone State conquered.

Here are the town signs of Ida County:


Ida Grove, Iowa
Ida Grove, Iowa
IDA GROVE
OUR LIBERTIES WE PRIZE OUR RIGHTS WE WILL MAINTAIN
Population: 2,142

Holstein, Iowa
Holstein, Iowa
Holstein
WILLKOMMEN FREUNDE
Population: 1,396

Battle Creek, Iowa
Battle Creek, Iowa
WELCOME to BATTLE CREEK
Small in size, Big in HEART
Est. 1865
Population: 713

Galva, Iowa
Galva, Iowa
Galva Welcomes You
the friendly town
Population: 434

Arthur, Iowa
Arthur, Iowa
WELCOME TO ARTHUR
EST. 1881
Population: 206

I don’t think that there is a bad town sign in Ida County. So rather than giving away the award for worst town sign in the county, I’ll just say that I found Holstein’s sign to be the most disappointing. It isn’t a bad sign, but with a name like Holstein how do you not have a cow on your sign? If you haven’t figured it out yet, I like signs with animals on them.

I do think the best town sign is pretty much a no-brainer. It is Ida Grove. Their town sign is a castle, with the state slogan, bird and flower on it. At first, I have to confess I wasn’t sure it was “the” town sign. But after examining it and thinking on it, it clearly is the town sign.


Ida Grove, Iowa
Ida Grove – Best in Show – Ida County

A couple towns did have alternate signs:


Ida Grove, Iowa
Ida Grove – Alternate

Ida Grove, Iowa
Ida Grove – Alternate

Holstein, Iowa
Holstein – Alternate

Here is the current list of Best in Shows:


Fontanelle, Iowa
Best in Show – Adair County

Audubon, Iowa
Best in Show – Audubon County

Norway, Iowa
Best in Show – Benton County

Moingona, Iowa
Best in Show – Boone County

Manson, Iowa
Best in Show – Calhoun County

Coon Rapids, Iowa
Best in Show – Carroll County

Murray, Iowa
Best in Show – Clarke County

Ricketts, Iowa
Best in Show – Crawford County

Dexter, Iowa
Best in Show – Dallas County

Popejoy, Iowa
Best in Show – Franklin County

Scranton, Iowa
Best in Show – Greene County

Beaman, Iowa
Best in Show – Grundy County

Menlo, Iowa
Best in Show – Guthrie County

Stanhope, Iowa
Best in Show – Hamilton County

Ackley, Iowa
Best in Show – Hardin County

Bradgate, iowa
Best in Show – Humboldt County

Ida Grove, Iowa
Best in Show – Ida County

Lynnville, Iowa
Best in Show – Jasper County

Lucas, Iowa
Best in Show – Lucas County

East Peru, Iowa
Best in Show – Madison County

Pleasantville, Iowa
Best in Show – Marion County

Haverhill, Iowa
Best in Show – Marshall County

Bondurant, Iowa
Best in Show – Polk County

Malcom, Iowa
Best in Show – Poweshiek County

Nemaha, Iowa
Best in Show – Sac County

Collins, Iowa
Best in Show – Story County

Tama, Iowa
Best in Show – Tama County

Creston, Iowa
Best in Show – Union County

Badger, Iowa
Best in Show – Webster County

Woolstock, Iowa
Best in Show – Wright County

The next time we check in on THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT we will visit Butler County.